Today is officially the first day of Fall. I love this season. Football is on TV. The air starts to get cool and crisp. And, that’s when we turn to some of our favorite warm and comforting foods. So, I thought I’d kick the season off with a few of the recipes I tend to turn to around this time of year. For me, one of the most cozy and comforting foods on a cold day is a hot bowl of soup. So, it’s no coincidence that three of the five recipes fall into that category.

Fall also tends to be when I’m trying to shed a few pounds from the summer BBQ season. So, I’m going to include a “healthy” version and a “cheat meal” version for each recipe. Typically, the difference between the two is a minor tweak but, the lower calories help when you’re trying to slip back into the jeans that fit in the spring but suddenly feel a bit snugger. Without further adieux . . .